Expansion and Growth: You Can’t Do It Alone

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Building a new PCB facility takes strong partnerships with your suppliers. I quickly learned that we could not build our new facility alone. We would need to find and develop relationships with what would become trusted vendor partners.

We learned that it was vitally important to collaborate and partner with the equipment vendors as well as the automation companies to make sure we selected both the right equipment and the right vendor partner. We wanted to be sure we could count on them for a long and productive relationship. We needed these companies and people to be part of the journey with us. We wanted to ensure they would be there to train our team on how to best use their equipment and products. Most importantly, they would be there, “Johnny-on-the-spot,” to maintain and repair the equipment when it went down.

As we near completion of our new high-tech facility in Schaumburg, Illinois, I can’t stress enough the value of our vendor partners in that process. Equipment and products are only as good as the company that can maintain them. I expect the relationships we developed during the building and equipment process will serve us well moving forward.

Here are some things I learned to look for when selecting good supplier partners:

Technical expertise and innovation: Ensure the supplier has extensive technical knowledge and is at the forefront of innovation in PCB technology. They should be able to offer advanced solutions and stay updated with industry trends. They need to keep you informed of upcoming advances in their equipment and products to ensure you are always aware of the next best thing.

Quality and reliability: The equipment provided by the vendor should be of high quality and reliable. Check for certifications, quality control processes, and track records of uptime and performance. This is critical, especially with the reduction in the number of shops in the U.S. and the migration to Asia. I am fortunate enough to have my shop in the greater Chicago area, where there is still a significant enclave of PCB shops and vendors.

To continue reading this article, which originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.